Allen&Heath ML3000 USER GUIDE - Manual (Page 35)

ML3000 User Guide 35
Using VCA Groups
Use audio groups where you want to insert group
signal processing or send groups of signals to the
matrix. Use VCA groups if you want grouped level
control only.
Route the channels to the mix by pressing the MAIN
MIX switch. Adjust the PAN and BLEND controls
for the image required. Assign the channel to the
required VCA group using method described on the
next page. The channel GROUP ASSIGNED LEDs
next to the faders light channels are assigned to
one or more VCA groups. Once assigned, the
group fader affects the channel level. Start with the
group fader set to its nominal ‘0’ position.
You can assign the channel to more than one
group. Take for example a theatre musical
production. Here, you may have stage
microphones assigned to Group 1, radio mics to
Group 2, and all microphones to Group 3. You may
also have all channels assigned to Group 8 as a
‘grand master’ to control the overall volume. In this
case, a radio microphone would be assigned to
Groups 2, 3 and 8. Note that the VCA groups affect
all channel post-fade sends such as effects and
direct outputs but not the pre-fade monitors.
MUTE. This momentary action switch turns all
assigned input channels on or off. It acts as a
remote control for the mute switches on those
channels. The channel pre-fade, post-mute sends
are also affected. The mute switches on assigned
channels light when the group is muted.
The switch also functions as the group select key
when in ASSIGN mode.
The VCA group mute cannot be assigned to a mute
group or snapshot memory. However, channels
which have been muted by the group can be stored
in the memories.
VCA GROUP FADER. The fader adjusts the level
of all channels assigned to the group. The ‘0’
position is referred to as the ‘nominal’ operating
setting. At this position the channel levels are as
marked on the channel faders. Any adjustment
made to the group fader offsets the channel level by
that amount. It is best to start with the group faders
set to their ‘0’ position.
At minimum position the fader shuts off all assigned
channels. At maximum position it provides a further
+10dB boost. Note that the maximum boost that
may be applied to the channel VCA is +10dB
regardless of how many group faders are assigned
and set above ‘0’. It is best to work with the faders
around ‘0’ and avoid excessive boost.
The following diagrams illustrate the combined
channel gain when assigning more than one VCA
group. In this case the final gain is affected by the
channel fader and three VCA groups.
PRE-FADE SENDS
POST-FADE SENDS
PAN
CHANNEL
FADER
MASTER
FADER
CHANNEL
ASSIGN
AUDIO GROUP
PRE-FADE SENDS
POST-FADE SENDS
PAN MAIN MIX R
L
C
+
VCA
CHANNEL
FADER
MASTER
FADER
CHANNEL
DC
AS
S
IG
N
VCA GROUP
PAN MAIN MIX R
L
C
INSERT
MATRIX SEND
AUDIO BUSS
DC VOLTAGE
SUBGROUP
CHANNEL GROUP 1 GROUP 2 GROUP 3
+10
+5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-40
off
-30
IN
OUT
0dB
-10dB
+15
+20
-5
-10
+5
0
CHANNEL GROUP 1 GROUP 2 GROUP 3
+10
+5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-40
off
-30
IN
OUT
0dB
off
+15
+20
-5
off
+5
0
Example 1
Example 2
CHANNEL GROUP 1 GROUP 2 GROUP 3
+10
+5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-40
off
-30
IN
OUT
0dB
+10dB
+15
+20
+10 +10 +10
0
(max)
Example 3